How to Lock a Chat in WhatsApp: Android, iPhone and Web

Overview: To lock a chat in WhatsApp, open the chat, tap the contact or group name, tap Chat lock, and turn on "Lock this chat." The chat moves into a separate Locked Chats folder that opens only with your fingerprint, Face ID, or phone passcode. Notifications from that chat stop showing the sender or message. This guide covers how to lock a chat in WhatsApp on Android, iPhone, and Web, how to add a secret code, how to lock group chats, how to unlock them, and what to do if Chat Lock is missing.

Chat Lock protects individual conversations on your phone. For businesses that also send campaigns to customers, a WhatsApp bulk message sender free tool handles that from a browser, separate from your locked chats.

WhatsApp Chat Lock moves a chat out of your main list and into a Locked Chats folder that only opens with your phone's fingerprint, Face ID, or passcode. It is built into WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business, and it is free.

Once a chat is locked:

• It disappears from the main chat list.
• Notifications show "WhatsApp: new message" instead of the sender and text.
• Photos and videos from that chat are not saved to your phone gallery automatically.
• The other person is not told that you locked the chat.

Also Read: WhatsApp Customer Retention: 8 Ways to Bring Clients Back

Method 1: From inside the chat

1. Open the chat you want to lock.

2. Tap the contact or group name at the top to open chat info.

3. Scroll down and tap Chat lock.

4. Turn on "Lock this chat with fingerprint" (or device lock).

5. Confirm with your fingerprint or phone PIN.

Result: the chat moves into the Locked Chats folder.

Method 2: From the chat list

1. Long-press the chat in your chat list.

2. Tap the three-dot menu at the top.

3. Tap Lock chat and confirm with your fingerprint or PIN.

Result: the chat is locked without opening it.

Method 1: From chat info

1. Open the chat.

2. Tap the contact or group name at the top.

3. Tap Lock Chat.

4. Tap Lock Chat with Face ID (or Touch ID) and confirm.

Result: the chat moves into the Locked Chats folder.

Method 2: From the chat list

1. Long-press the chat in your chat list.

2. Tap Lock Chat.

3. Confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

Result: the chat disappears from your main list.

To find and open the chat afterwards, pull down on your chat list to reveal the Locked Chats folder. The full steps, including the secret code search, are in this guide on how to see locked chats in WhatsApp.

Also Read: WhatsApp Status Privacy: Who Sees It and How to Control It

Group chats lock exactly like individual chats. Open the group, tap the group name, tap Chat lock, and turn it on. Only your copy of the group is locked. Other members still see the group normally, and nobody is told that you locked it.

A secret code is a password for your locked chats. It adds a second layer: you can hide the Locked Chats folder completely, so it only appears when you type the code into the search bar.

1. Open the Locked Chats folder by pulling down on your chat list.

2. Tap the three-dot menu (Android) or the settings option (iPhone) inside the folder, then Chat lock settings.

3. Tap Secret code and create a code. It can be a word, a number, or even an emoji.

4. Turn on Hide locked chats.

Result: the Locked Chats folder vanishes from your chat list and only appears when you type your secret code in WhatsApp search.

Also Read: How to Create Community in WhatsApp Business (2026 Guide)

Locked chats are protected on linked devices through your secret code. Once you set a secret code on your phone, your locked chats appear on WhatsApp Web and the desktop app only after you enter that code.

1. Set a secret code on your phone first, using the steps above.

2. On WhatsApp Web or desktop, open the Locked chats option at the top of the chat list.

3. Enter your secret code to view them.

Result: your locked chats stay protected even on a shared or work computer.

On recent versions, you can also lock a chat directly from a linked device once a secret code is set. If you do not see the option, lock the chat on your phone instead.

Archived chats are easy for anyone to find. If you only want a tidier list, this guide on how to see archived chats in WhatsApp explains how archiving works and how to reverse it.

Also Read: WhatsApp Channels for Business: How to Create and Grow One

On Android: Settings > Privacy > App lock (or Fingerprint lock). Turn it on, confirm your fingerprint, and choose how quickly the app locks after you leave it.

On iPhone: Settings > Privacy > Screen Lock. Turn on Require Face ID or Touch ID and choose a timeout.

App Lock and Chat Lock work well together: App Lock stops casual access to WhatsApp, and Chat Lock keeps your most private conversations hidden even when the app is open.

1. Pull down on your chat list and open Locked Chats (or search your secret code).

2. Open the chat you want to unlock.

3. Tap the contact or group name at the top.

4. Tap Chat lock and turn it off, then confirm with your fingerprint or Face ID.

Result: the chat returns to your main chat list with all messages intact.

Also Read: How to Enable Voice Typing in WhatsApp: Android and iPhone

Your fingerprint or Face ID still opens locked chats on your phone even if you forget the secret code. To reset the code, open the Locked Chats folder with your biometrics, go to Chat lock settings, and change the secret code.

If biometrics are not set up or not working, the last resort is Settings > Privacy > Chat lock > Unlock and clear locked chats. This removes the lock and deletes the messages, photos, and videos in those chats, so back up WhatsApp first if you can.

Also Read: Report a Contact on WhatsApp: Android, iPhone and Web (2026)

1. Update WhatsApp. Chat Lock and secret codes need a recent version. Update from the Play Store or App Store.

2. Set up a phone lock. Chat Lock requires a fingerprint, Face ID, or screen passcode on your phone.

3. Look in the right place. The option sits in chat info, under the contact or group name, not in main Settings.

4. Check the linked device. If you are on Web or desktop, lock the chat on your phone first.

5. Restart the app. Close WhatsApp fully and reopen it after updating.

Many small businesses run WhatsApp on a shared shop or office phone. Chat Lock lets owners keep sensitive conversations, such as supplier pricing, payment details, or personal chats, away from staff who use the same device.

• Lock chats with suppliers, partners, and payment conversations.
• Turn on App Lock if the phone is left on a counter.
• Use a secret code so locked chats stay protected on WhatsApp Web in the office.

For account-level protection beyond locking chats, this guide on securing your WhatsApp business chats covers passkeys, two-step verification, and linked device checks.

Locked chats stay private on your phone. Customer outreach can run separately: Roklo sends personalised campaigns to your contact list from a browser, without needing access to your locked conversations.

Locking a chat in WhatsApp takes a few taps: open the chat, tap the name, tap Chat lock, and confirm with your fingerprint or Face ID. Add a secret code to hide the Locked Chats folder completely and protect those chats on WhatsApp Web too.

Use Chat Lock for specific private conversations, App Lock to stop anyone opening WhatsApp, and Archive only for tidying up. Choose a secret code you will remember, because resetting it without biometrics clears your locked chats.

For businesses reaching customers on WhatsApp, Roklo works as a free bulk message sender from your browser.
Also Read: WhatsApp Business Auto Reply: 30 Ready-to-Use Message Samples (2026)